The awards were given out by the Vietnam Anti-Corruption Initiatives (VACI) 2011 programme, which was launched in December 2010.

The World Bank in Vietnam, in coordination with the Vietnamese Government Inspectorate, initiated the VACI 2011 programme.

Among the 160 applicants to the programme, 60 were short-listed for the final round, which opened on August 16 in Hanoi.

After two days of deliberation, the jury picked 34 outstanding proposals for the awards, given out on August 17. Each winning proposal was granted up to VND290 million (USD14,067).

Among the winners, the proposals that got the most attention was one that would help to get rid of bribery in hospitals, another that would promote responsibility and transparency among primary school students, as well as one that would create a new, friendlier model of local governance within local communities.

According to Tran Duc Luong, Deputy Chief Government Inspector, the country’s law on anti-corruption requires state officials to declare their assets.

In order to maintain their prestige, those who are in high positions should be honest in their declarations, Luong emphasised.

In the meantime, Tran Dinh Hop, Director of Hung Gia Service, Trading and Investment Limited Company, which was among the winners, told DTiNews that the country needs an anti-corruption supervision mechanism.

Hop noted that, even though the country has anti-corruption laws, and has made a lot of progress in fighting corruption, the efficiency of the system leaves much to be desired.